The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi has secured re-election with an announcement from the country’s election commission stating that he garnered over 70 percent of the vote.
The preliminary results of the December 20 election were announced in the capital, Kinshasa, on Sunday amid demands from the opposition and some civil society groups for the vote to be rerun due to massive logistical problems that put the validity of the outcome into question.
Businessman Moise Katumbi secured second place behind Tshisekedi with 18 percent of the vote. Martin Fayulu, a former oil company executive, received 5 percent, while Denis Mukwege, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and esteemed physician known for his work in treating women affected by sexual violence in eastern DR Congo, received less than 1 percent of the vote. The Democratic Republic
The election witnessed a turnout of over 40 percent, with approximately 18 million people casting their votes. Election chief Denis Kadima announced that the results will be submitted to the constitutional court for confirmation.
Opposition candidates disputing the outcomes have a two-day window to present their claims, and the constitutional court will then have seven days to make a decision. The conclusive results are anticipated to be announced on January 10, and the presidential inauguration is scheduled to take place at the end of that month.
The DR Congo has a history of disputed elections that can turn violent, and many of its citizens harbour little trust in the country’s institutions.